[Cloud]

Well, I finally bought my first house and I've decided to upgrade my home theater setup. I had previously been running a sort of put-together-from-pieces type setup consisting of two 15" floorstanding KLH 4-ways for the fronts and 2 small Pioneer speakers for the rears and 2 matching Pioneer center speaker for the front and rear center channel. All of this running off my trusty JVC RX-F10 receiver.

Now I want something that not only sounds good, but also isn't such an eyesore. I'm looking for advise on a few things, and as much as I'd love to say money is no object, it is so I'd like to keep things reasonably priced.

First is the receiver - Do I stay with the JVC, or get something different. My main concern is getting the most out of my PS3 and HD-DVD player, while still having room to plug all my other stuff in. I fear the lack of HDMI may be holding me back with this receiver, but I could be wrong. I'd like others opinions on this.

Secondly is the speakers - I'd like something that sounds great not only in 2ch stereo, but also for full surround. I'd like something that doesn't take up as much room as the KLH's I previously had too. Do I go with a slim floor standing speaker at all 4 corners? Or just up front, then get different rears? And what brands/models sound good?

Lastly is the sub - I have an original Tempest I've been saving for a custom sub application, but I'm beginning to wonder if this will be to big, to loud, and to time consuming to make (not to mention the addition of an amp) and if I should consider something else. I also have a pair of TC-Sounds 8" subs I was considering making into a nice dual 8" sub, but don't know how that would sound. I'm looking for something with considerable amount of bass for movies/gaming but not so much that it has to shake the walls. I just don't want that crappy HTiB 'subwoofer' sound.

[gene c]

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First is the receiver - Do I stay with the JVC, or get something different. My main concern is getting the most out of my PS3 and HD-DVD player,

I would up-grade the receiver for an hdmi 1.3 since you have a PS3.

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Secondly is the speakers -

I'd definently get new speakers first. I prefer towers for the front but mostly for image/ego reasons (at least I'm honest ) but a decent size bookshelf would work just as well and be a little cheaper. . You don't need towers for the rears. The important thing is for the fronts and center to be from the same family of speakers. Not as important for the rears but they really should be as well.

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And what brands/models sound good?

To me, a whole bunch of 'em. Swans, Rockets, Aperion, Infinity, Athena, Polk LSi's, Etc. And I'm sure there are many others I haven't the chance to listen to yet. But it's impossible to pick them for someone else based on sound quality. But appearance and value is another thing. I think my Swans are gorgeous. So are the Rockets. And the Infinity's and Athena's are a great value. But you have to hear them for yourself to end up with what you like.

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Lastly is the sub

Can't really help you there. Not my thing . There are many others around here who are very knowledgable about subs, though.

[Cloud]

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Originally Posted by gene c

I would up-grade the receiver for an hdmi 1.3 since you have a PS3.

Is the 1.3 a video thing or audio thing? I'm wondering what the audio difference would be between running the hdmi to the receiver first or straight to the tv then using the tv's coax out to run to the receiver. Either way I'll need to upgrade the receiver it seems.

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Originally Posted by gene c

I'd definently get new speakers first. I prefer towers for the front but mostly for image/ego reasons (at least I'm honest ) but a decent size bookshelf would work just as well and be a little cheaper. . You don't need towers for the rears. The important thing is for the fronts and center to be from the same family of speakers. Not as important for the rears but they really should be as well. To me, a whole bunch of 'em. Swans, Rockets, Aperion, Infinity, Athena, Polk LSi's, Etc. And I'm sure there are many others I haven't the chance to listen to yet. But it's impossible to pick them for someone else based on sound quality. But appearance and value is another thing. I think my Swans are gorgeous. So are the Rockets. And the Infinity's and Athena's are a great value. But you have to hear them for yourself to end up with what you like.

I like the svs systems, and the reviews for them are always glowing. I just don't know if I could justify over $1250 for my audio setup, especially with no way to here it before I buy. Which is why I really want to explore my options before I buy something. Any specific models I should look at?

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Originally Posted by gene c

Can't really help you there (sub). Not my thing . There are many others around here who are very knowledgable about subs, though.

Hopefully someone will chime in here. My 3 options are: Build my 15" tempest sub and live with the fact that its going to take up way to much room, Build my dual TC-Sounds 8" sub and hope I like the way it sounds, or purchase a pre-built unit such as the svs. I've never heard any higher end pre-built setups so I really don't know if I'd like that either.

[gene c]

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Is the 1.3 a video thing or audio thing?

Both. Audio for the latest lossless formats like DTD-MA and DD-TrueHD, and video for Deep Color capability. This whole HDMI is more confusing than it should be. Look at HDMI to learn more about it.

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I like the svs systems,

They are very popular and often recommended. I've only heard a two channel system at a friends house a few times and they are all they seem to be.

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especially with no way to here it before I buy.

SVS (and others) offer a 30 day trial period with a no hassel return policy. Some make you pay return shipping, but there is no better way to audition a speaker than in your own house.

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Any specific models I should look at?

There must be hundreds of brands to choose from. We all have our favorites but speakers can sound vastly different from one another and you might not like what I like. I like to use PriceGrabber.com or Shopping.com to see whats currently available. Then there are the internet direct companies like Ascend, Aperion Av123 (Rockets, xl-s) Audioinsider and Ozhometheater (Swans) and probably others. Even Emotiva and OutlawAudio are into speakers now, though a bit pricey. See, it's a jungle out there.

[Cloud]

Thanks for the info and the link, looks like I've got a bit of reading and shopping to due on both my speaker setup and receiver choice.

[Cloud]

Well, I've decided on the Yamaha RX-V663 for a receiver since its both in my price range and has all the features I'm looking for.

As for speakers, I've decided to get a package deal to make sure there is no sound variations between speakers. Now I just need to decide which ones. Use will be about 1/3 movies, 1/3 gaming, 1/3 music and I'm debating between bookselfs and towers in front.

And now for my biggest problem, the subwoofer. The room is carpeted so I'm leaning against downfiring subs. Now, problem 1 - Whats the sound difference between a forward facing sub with forward facing port and a forward facing sub with rear facing port? The sub will be placed in a corner of the room most likely. Problem 2 - Do I get one slightly more expensive 12" sub or 2 slightly less expensive 10" subs for a more even bass sound?